Ash-sifter.



Patented lan. l, 190|.l

'w. A. sExTuN.

AS H S I F T E R.

(Appliction' led Jan; 29, 1900.)

(No Model.)

N-vEN-rmri WITNEEEEE'.

i v UNITED STA'rnsATi-:NT Prion.

WILLIAM A. SEXION, OF SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS.

ASH-sufran.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 665,136, dated January 1, 1901.

Application iile-d January 29, 1900. Serial No. 3,121. (No modeLl T0 all whom it may concern:

Be il known that. I, WILLIAM A. SExToN, of Somerville, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massach usetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ash-Sitters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to ash-sifters and it l has for its object to provide a simple and convenient article of this class which shall be practically dustless in operation.

The invention consists in certain novel features of construction and'arrangement, which I shall now proceed to describe and claim.

Of the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a Vertical section of an ash-sifter constructed in accordance with my invention, a portion of the barrel or ash-receiver to which it is applied being also shown. Fig. 2 represents a horizontal sectional View of the device. Fig. 3 represents an enlarged detail view of the catch or fastener employed. Fig. 4: represents an enlarged sectional view on the line et Lof Fig. 1. Fig. 5 represents a section online 5 5 of Fig. 4:.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the figures.

Referring,r to the drawings, 1 designates a flat base, circular in outline and adapted to fit over the top of a barrel, can, or other ashreceiver 2. In the middle of the base 1 is an elongated narrow slot 3.

4 is a sifting-box, hinged to rock'upou the base 1 and supported in bearings 5 5, which are mounted on raised strips 6 6 on the base 1. The sifting-box is provided with trunnions formed by the ends of a rod 7 passed transversely thro ugh the lower end of the box and entering the bearings 5, each bearing having an upturned lip 8 at its end to prevent longitudinal displacement of the rod 7. The bearings are here shown vas composed of sheet metal bent to form. Within the box is a horizontal grating or sieve 9, having a space above Vit to receive the ashes which are to be sifted and a space below it into which the siftings fall. The lower space has a sloping or hopper-shaped bottom, consisting of the convergent sides 10 10, at the apex of which is an elongated narrow outlet ll, coinciding with the slot 3 in the base 1. The axis of the hinge or bearing of the sifting-box coincides substantially with the apex of the convergent boty the end of the box above the sieve.

tom sides 1-0 l0, so that during the sifting operation the siftings which fall upon the bottom sides 10 are always directed toward the outlet 11. It will be seen that the spacebelow the sieve 9 is triangular in shape and bounded by substantially the whole extent-of the sieve and convergent sides 10 l0, there being no protected corners or nooks for the lodgment of siftings, iut the siftings from the Whole of the area of the sieve falling directly toward the outlet 11. The outlet 11 always coincides with the slot 3 in the base, and being relatively long and narrow and located at the apex of the convergent bottom, which apex coincides with the axis of oscillation of the sifting-box, opportunity is afforded for practically dust-proof construction-that is, the opening in the cover l into which the nose or apex of the sifting-box projects is reduced to the smallest dimensions, and the opportunity for the escape of dust is thereby minimized. The lower end or apex ofthe box is' of semicylindrical outer contour, the arc of the cylinder heilig centered on the axis of oscillation of the box, so that the sides of the cylinder are always at the same distance from the walls of the slot 3 in the base l. The opening between the sifting-box and the base can thus be minimized without interfering with the easy movement of the boxv on its trunnions. The sides 13 13 of the outlet 11, within the cylindrical structure 12, are practically straight and form contin nations of the sloping bottom sides lO. The structure at the lower end of the box, embracing the outlet 11, is'preferably composed of sheet metal.

At one end of the box 4; is a handle 14, which is grasped to rock the box and sift its contents, the ashes being thrown from one end of the box to the other during the rocking motion and sifted over the sieve 9. At one end the box is provided with an opening to the space above the sieve 9, said opening having a door or cover 15 hinged at 16 to the top side of the box. The door is L-shaped in section, having a horizontal portion on the topof the box and a vertical portion which constitutes The opening is of corresponding extent, being thus made ample for the introduction of the ashes. A catch or fastening 17 is provided for holding the door 15 closed. To lill the sifting- IOO box, it is thrown over in a tilting position, as shown in Fig. 1, with the door 15 uppermost and the sieve-9 at an angle. When in this position, the sloping side l0 of the bottom rests upon and is supported by the base 1. This is the natural position of the sifting-box when not being handled, its weight causing it to turn over in its bearings to the inclined position. The ashes may then be introduced through the opening described, the space above the sieve 9 being easily filled to its full capacity without danger of spilling the ashes, as would be the case with an opening in the top of the box. I have further shown a door 1S at the opposite end of the box from the door 15 for the removal of the cinders after the sifting operation, said door being a vertical one hinged at 19 at its upper end and provided with a catch or fastener 2O for holding it closed. The opening covered by the door 1S is preferably smaller than that covered by the door 15, being located, as shown in the drawings, in the contracted space between two convergent vertical side pieces 21 21 of the box 4. In removing the cinders the box is tilted into the saine position as in filling; but the door 15 is left closed. The door 1S being then opened, the cinders can be removed with very little escape of dust because of the location of the door 1S and the size of its opening.

The catch or fastening 17, which is similar to the catch 20, is shown in detail in Fig. 3. It consists of a helical spring 22, secured at its upper end to the doorl and having atits lower end a knob 23, which is adapted to catch under two projections 24 24 on one of the bottom sides 10 of the box. To bring the knob to this position, it is necessary to stretch the spring 22, which then naturally holds the door l which the rod 7 passes.

securely in place. The spring 22 is protected by an inclosing sheath or socket 25, attached tothe door 15.

Secured to the inner sides of the lower portion of the walls of the siftingbox are metal strips 30, the lower ends of which engage and rest upon the rod 7, which in turn is supported inthe bearings 5 5. It Will thus be seen that the weight of the sifting-box and itscontents is supported and the Wear taken up by the said strips 30. Secured to the outer face of the lower portions of the box are thin plates 31, preferably circular in shape, as indicated in Fig. 1, each of said plates 31 having a central hole, as indicated at 32 in Fig. 1, through These plates 31 serve to prevent the escape of any dust around the pivotal point of the box.

I claimw In combination with a sifting-box provided with a screen, and having an inlet and outlets, a hopperbotton1 formed of converging walls 10, a pivotshaft, and a barrel-cover formed with a diametrical opening and bearings at either end of the opening adapted to receive said shaft, the ashes-outlet formed of two substantially semicylindrical heads and two side Walls consisting of sheetlneta1 pieces bent to forni an externally-cylindrical contour for the said walls, an internal tapering hopper forming a continuation of the converging Walls 10, and iianges whereby the said pieces are secured to the lower edges of said Walls 10.

In testimony whereof I have afxed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM A. SEXTON.

Witnesses:

P. W. PEZZETTI, A. D. HARRISON. 

